Special Features

7. Exercise

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Ever felt jacked-up immediately after a good workout? If so, you’re not alone. Usually, during exercise and shortly thereafter, our bodies experience a rapid increase in stress hormones. These hormones help increase blood flow, boost our heart rates and raise our body temperature in order to keep our muscles pumping. The net effect, however, will leave you wide awake. Over time, though, stress hormone levels drop, thereby promoting the opposite effect of making you tired. Studies have even shown that regular exercise will actually improve sleep in insomniacs in the long run. To ensure that exercise is promoting sleep rather than disturbing it, avoid the gym before bedtime. In fact, the earlier you work out, the better you’ll sleep.